All the Free & Cheap Food Graduates Can Get Right Now

Parties and ceremonies may be canceled, but good food is still on the menu.

You've worked for years to get to this point, and your moment of triumph has been... well... altered. You still did the work, and you still earned the accolades. However, your graduation celebration has been impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. It sucks.

You can ease the disappointment a bit with a virtual graduation party. You could also put some salve on the wound by wolfing down a bunch of free donuts or other tasty treats that are being offered to graduates in a very weird spring. Restaurants are serving up some free and cheap food for despondent graduates who want to feel a little celebratory despite the cancelation of graduation ceremonies and parties.

Here's our running list of the best food deals for graduates you're going to find this year.

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Please note: If you are located in a city with a curfew due to protests against police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, consider avoiding delivery at night. Ordering delivery after or near your city’s curfew could put the people delivering your food at risk.

Free Food for Graduates

Krispy KremeThe deal: Instead of celebrating National Donut Day, Krispy Kreme is celebrating National Donut Week. Get a free donut any day during the week just for stopping in. When: June 1-5

McDonald'sThe deal: Every Friday, you can get free French Fries from McDonald's with a minimum $1 purchase. When: Fridays through June 28

Steak 'n ShakeThe deal: Everyone -- yes, that includes you -- is getting a free order of fries at Steak 'n Shake. You'll have to go through the drive-thru, but there's no minimum order. It's open to anyone, at any time as a part of a program called "We're All Essential." Though, you don't have to know that part to get the free fries. When: Ongoing

Wendy'sThe deal: Make any purchase at all through the Wendy's app and you'll get a free Spicy Chicken Sandwich or a Breakfast Baconator. (You can actually get both at different times. These are separate offers available in the app.)When: Through June 7

Food Deals for Graduates

SmashburgerThe deal: The new "Graduation Family Bundle Meal" will get you on your way to a mini grad party. Get four Classic Singles and four Smash Tots starting at $25.95 or six Classic Singles and six Smash Tots starting at $38.95. When: Ongoing

This browser does not support the video tag.Courtesy of Whataburger

Other Food Deals Available Right Now for Graduates

White CastleThe deal: If you're an employee at a grocery store or a retail food outlet, you can get 20% off any order at White Castle. It's the chain's way of thanking workers for their hard work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.When: Through June 15

Firehouse SubsThe deal: The chain's new Family Meal deal gets you a mix-and-match of three subs, three orders of chips, and three cookies for $24. When: Ongoing

Cousins SubsThe deal: You can get a free seven-and-a-half-inch sub when you sign up for Cousins Club. Plus, if you're a Cousins Club member and place an online order, you'll get double points.When: Ongoing

PaneraThe deal: Take advantage of Panera's new curbside service and get $5 off an order of at least $20 when you use the code "CURBSIDE5."When: Ongoing

Del TacoThe deal: The code "DELTACONOW" will get you free delivery with no minimum order through Postmates.When: Ongoing

SubwayThe deal: Use the promo code "SUBWAYNOW" and you'll get free delivery from any service that delivers Subway. When: Ongoing

Taco BellThe deal: On March 28, the bean-slinging chain announced that it will expand its free delivery option through Grubhub. You can get free delivery on any delivery order of at least $12.When: Ongoing

Jeni's Splendid Ice CreamsThe deal: If you order at least four pints of ice cream, you can get free delivery when you order through the Jeni's website. Orders through Postmates will not get the same deal.When: Ongoing

Edible ArrangementsThe deal: The company has temporarily eliminated fees for same-day delivery for orders placed by 3pm daily and many locations are offering free delivery of fresh fruit and produce. When: Limited time

BonchonThe deal: Order through Uber Eats to get free delivery with an order of $25 or more. When: Ongoing

Miguel's Jr.The deal: Order through Uber Eats for free delivery. New DoorDash customers can get free delivery with a $15 minimum order. Additionally, if you order through Grubhub, you can get $5 off orders placed from 11am to 7pm. When: Ongoing

UberritoThe deal: The chain is running a "$5 chicken for pick-up" deal as well as offering a $0.99 kid meal with the purchase of an entrée.When: Ongoing

QdobaThe deal: Get a burrito, side of tortilla chips, salsa, and dessert for $9.95. When: Ongoing

Casa OléThe deal: Order an entrée and it'll cost you just $0.99 to add a kid meal to your tab. Also, the restaurant is offering double points every day on all pick-up orders. When: Ongoing

QdobaThe deal: The new Burrito Meal Deal will land you a burrito, tortilla chips, salsa, and a dessert for $9.95. When: Ongoing

Capriotti's Sandwich ShopThe deal: Nab a free grilled cheese sandwich for kids when you buy an entrée and get it delivered.When: Ongoing

B.GOODThe deal: The restaurant has expanded its usual kid meal deal. Kids can eat free every day of the week with the purchase of one adult entrée. In fact, you can get two free kid meals for every adult meal purchase. When: Ongoing

Chuck E CheeseThe deal: The pizza mouse is rolling out a new $5 and $3 menu for carryout and delivery. You can get a large cheese pizza, cheesy bread, or garden salad for $5. There's also unicorn churros, mozzarella sticks, and pretzel bites for $3. When: Ongoing

BJ's Restaurant & BrewhouseThe deal: Place an order of $9.95 or more and get a free Pizzokie -- that's a portmanteau of pizza and cookie -- when you use the code "PIZOOKIE."When: Ongoing

Einstein Bros. BagelsThe deal: The new Hot & Ready Brunch Box lands you six bagels, a tub of shmear, three egg sandwiches, four blueberry muffins, and four twice-baked based browns for $29.99. When: Ongoing

BJ's Restaurant & BrewhouseThe deal: Get half-off a large pizza with the code "HALFOFF" or get a $6 take-home entrée with a $9.95 purchase. There's a limit of three of the cheap meals per order.When: A limited time

Red LobsterThe deal: Order directly through RedLobster.com and you can get free touchless delivery at participating locations. When: Ongoing

Baskin-RobbinsThe deal: When you order through DoorDash you can get $0 delivery fees on any order of at least $15 with the code "BASKIN."When: Ongoing

Panda ExpressThe deal: Hospital staff members and first responders will get 10% off any order made in-store at participating locations. When: May 11 - December 31

Taco CabanaThe deal: There are a few deals you can snag for Mother's Day at Taco Cabana. Get two Nutella empanadas for $2.99 (or a dozen for $14.99), $2 margaritas, or a gallon of margaritas to go for $34.99. When: Ongoing

Olive GardenThe deal: The home of unlimited breadsticks is crafting a Mother's Day Family-Style Take & Bake Bundle. For $40, you get a pan of ready-to-bake Giant Cheese Stuffed Shells, a jumbo house salad with a bottle of Italian dressing, and a dozen ready-to-bake breadsticks with dipping sauce. When: Starting May 2

HootersThe deal: Make a $30 purchase and you'll get $10 off with the code "GET10." Place and order for $50, and you'll wind up with $15 off when you use the code "GET15."When: Ongoing

Einstein Bros. BagelsThe deal: Teachers and parents who are homeschooling their kids can take advantage of a couple of deals for Teacher Appreciation Week. That includes 20% off an eGift Card you can send to someone to say thanks. When: Ongoing

Smokey BonesThe deal: Get a free kids meal with the purchase of any entrée. When: A limited time

Taco CabanaThe deal: If you work in a restaurant, hotel, food service industry, grocery store, big-box store, or drugstore, you can get 50% off your order when you purchase while wearing a uniform or show an ID. When: Ongoing